DISCLAMER: Final Fantasy XIII belongs to Square Enix and Tetsuya Nomura; Yu-gi-oh manga/anime franchise and the card game belongs to Konami and Kazuki Takahashi; all fanmade cards will be detailed at the end of chapters.

Chronology:

FFXIII: after the Gapra Whitewood chapter, about to enter Palompolum

YGO: alternate timeline

Cold Saga

It is sometimes the strings of history that determine the flow of destiny.

It is sometimes the will of men that guides time in it's flow.

History is a fix, and there is no turning back.

But, here's the problem:

How do we know at which point the world was sailed by destiny…

… And at which point men took the steering wheel in their hands?

Slaves of destiny, with luck as our only power…

This state deluded us all…

Until, we stopped thinking that way.

- author unknown

No one recalls specific details of the events prior, and as such, even Shiro's memories are very blurry. What he recalls is shifting darkness in front of him, space moving at high speeds, and the sounds of rapidly turning wheels of his vehicle which was otherwise death-silent.

Moving at high speed, he saw light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel. The light reflected in the vizir of his helmet, depicting movement as only seen in dreams.

He also recalls loud noise occuring behind him, a world of noise he so desperately tried to seal away from his senses. He heard voices, screams, both of misery and of threats, and he heard explosions, and yowls, and howls, and gunshots.

The speed was almost right. One bit more, and his vehicle will possess enough power to Transect. His eyes felt like they were starring into a fire inferno, despite the vizir, and despite the cold surroundings, his right wrist burned with unspoken intensity. A familiar pattern arose even beneath his clothes, depicting a brand of sorts, burned into his very skin.

"Why… Why is it that I can't…"

He kept wondering the same thing, over and over again, while driving through a storm of echoes. The world around him just kept on with the tremendous lightshow display, like an endless whirlpool of smoke, light and mirrors, never stopping, never ceasing it's nightmarish shifts of paradigms.

Then, finally, the light reached him…

"Why can't I live at peace!"

… and it vanished along with him.

Hope and Lightning just got through a large gateway out of Gapra Whitewood. As the massive gates closed shut behind them, all they could see in front of them was a path of barren stone. It was here that they met an important checkpoint in their perilous journey: one step closer to their goal: the capital city of Eden, and Hope's hometown: Palompolum.

Lightning: "Palompolum is not far now, right?"

Hope: "If memory serves, we shuld see it's coastline behind that hill. My home town."

As the potent young boy and the strong woman paced forward, it was Lightning that brought up a nasty subject:

Lightning: "And your father's."

Hope couldn't help but halt his advance and gaze at the ground while Lightning walked ahead. All it took was a memento of his past to bring upon the worst of his memories.

Hope: "(silently) Yeah… Or at least, it used to be. Before the l'Cie stuff anyway."

Lightning stoped walking, but she didn't turn around to tell Hope what needed to be said into his face.

Lightning: "Hope, you have to tell him. (resumes walking) He's your dad, he must understand."

Hope: "So what if he does? Like it will change a thing…"

Lightning: "Maybe it will. He's all family you have lef… (gasp)"

What held Lightning's advance when she reached the peak of the hill was the sight before her. Many things in Cocoon would leave random folk breathless and speechless, but what lied before her now was even beyond that. Hope, still catching up with her, didn't see it from her perspective, and as such, he didn's understand her reaction.

Hope: "Some family. I never mattered to him even without being a… (looks at Lightning) What's wrong?"

And that's when he saw it. Hope remembered his home town very well, there was no street, corner or sight he was unfamiliar with.

Save for this.

Before the two, almost on the other end of the horizon, stood the Comerce Capital city of Palompolum. It was in the far distance, so details of the city were very blurry.

However, before that…

In front of them, there was a sea.

A sea… of solid water.

The massive water body that acted as a direct link on the map from Gapra Whitewood to Palompolum, it was now just a huge amount of mirror-hard crystals.

Hope: "What the…?"

Lightning: "This is not the home as you left, is it?"

The sight was extraordinary. No surface of the sea was spared from the crystalization process, the shallow coast in front of them was no exception. The mass kept radiating reflected rays of dusk sunshine like a giant ice-sculpture. The surface was not calm either. It's grounds kept spawning waves, ripples, splashes and many other mysterious sculptures, all frozen in time.

Taking a careful step forward, Lightning kept gazing upon this new landscape. Hope was keeping his distance at first, but you could tell he was confused.

Hope: "The sea… It's like back then with Lake Bresha. (observing the structure) Are fal'Cie behind this?"

Lightning: "… No."

Hope: "How can you tell?"

Before answering, Lightning sliced a small chunk of solid water with her gun-sword, and picked it up.

Lightning: "This is not crystal, not of fal'Cie design."

As she rubbed it with her finger slightly, the chunk left a wet trace in her hand. It was melting.

Lightning: "It's ice. The entire sea… Frozen."

From high above, a bird might gaze down upon the Palompolum gulf, and the frozen sea, sending a cold chill that rippled in the air, looked like a massive, crystalized whirlpool.

Episode 1: The Stranger from Ice

Lightning could tell the true nature of her new surroundings even without picking up chunks of ice. She remembered the events and the outcome at lake Bresha very well: Anima, a fal'Cie, crash landed into the lake beneath, and in it's dying cry, the entity's magic swallowed the entire lake, raising a storm, and then turning every single particle of water into crystal. The landscape, although beautiful, was only a grim memory.

Bresha features a certain pattern, a design so to speak, as if the fal'Cie performed one last orchestral crescendo. The crystals of Bresha, they were beautiful and regular in it's shape.

This time, all sense of regullarity and beauty was gone, lost in the never ending ripple of change. The sharp edges, the massive collumns, you could tell not the whole sea froze up at the exactly the same moment. It was almost natural in perspective, devoid of sentient design.

Hope: "How could this happen?"

Lightning: "Beats me, but I don't intend to stick around to find out. (to Hope, directly) Hope, we should get moving. Massive changes like this will attract attention."

Hope: "(nods) Agreed. PSICOM will surely come investigate this, is that it?"

With only a nod, Lightning replied and slowly paced away from the icy grounds. The crescent coast of solid earth should lead them to Palompolum just the same, and more importatnly, it will do so without raising an alarm.

But…

There was something.

Some kind of sound… Some kind of voice, a whisper trapped in the chilling air. Not only did this get Light's attention, but it also made her think like it was her it was calling for.

Lightning: "What…?"

It was beyond describing. Some kind of silent echo, not any louder than a sigh, but it's crafted tunes sounded almost like music. As she looked at the frozen mass again, Light's confusion was only increased as she didn't see anything out of ordinary.

Hope: "What's wrong?"

Impatient, Hope was almost rushing Light to get as far away from the ice structure as possible. It was to no avail.

Whatever it was that Light heard, it changed her mind in a flash.

Lightning: "There is something out there…"

Hope: "What?"

Without answering directly, the ex-soldier ran down and across the frozen ravine, all the way to a stilled wave which, in it's current state, served as a hill of sorts. Lightning had little trouble jumping up and reaching it's peak, taking a better look across the stilled waters.

As mentioned before, the frozen sea resembled a petrified whirlpool, so it's pattern was in the most basic sense a spiral. The very center of the spiral, that was the interresting part, was a massive collumn reaching up like a statue. In Lightning's head, as the echo she heard before continued, so did the intensity of the light reflected from that very collumn increase.

Light got down and met up with Hope, much to his disturbance.

Hope: "What did you see?"

Lightning: "… There appears to be an object of interrest at the center of that frozen terrain. For a moment it felt like…"

She meant to say "like the ice spoke to me", but hearing that out loud would deffinitely not be the right stuff to put on Hope's mind right now. Instead, she choked and the words remained behind in her throat. Understanding how his companion feels about it, Hope still spoke up:

Hope: "Want to check it out? It might come as a thorn in PSICOM's eyes, but aren't they on our tracks already? Besides, we could use that as a shortcut to the city before any elite troops get here."

The argument made little sense to an experienced soldier. Still, what Light was looking for was a little bit of sense in her decision. She had to come across and see what was calling out to her, the urge was almost burning inside of her.

Lightning: "Alright, but we move fast, and keep close to as many hiding spots as we can. In case trouble arises, we take the hide."

Minutes passed, and the duo still didn't make it all to the center of the whirlpool. Despite the advice on moving with the utmost care, none of them could help it but to admire their new surroundings. It was astonishing how detailed the dripping of water formed up into their current state, a mind-twisting ballade of a roaring sea, which lost the battle against a higher force.

But what force could have done this? Were fal'Cie pulling their strings into a new drama of destiny? Or was it something else, even more frightening?

To break the silence of this walk…

Hope: "GYAH!"

What made Hope scream was a sudden sight. Not paying attention to where he was going, the icy statue in front of him surprised him greatly. It was not just spikes that greeted him, there were also teeth.

What he saw was a huge fish-like creature, a leviathan native to the deep waters, frozen solid in mid surfacing. It's otherwise harmless grin revealed several rows of knife-sharp teeth. The creature was obviously trying to capture unknown prey when the wave of cold suddenly made an impact. Even thawed out after now, the fish would still be dead.

Lightning: "(sarcasticly) Watch out. You might freeze of fright."

Hope: "I'm fine. It just startled me a little."

Lightning: "Save your shouts and shots for when real trouble comes by. Who knows what else might lie here? And other than that thing, I have a feeling it won't be petrified."

The stroll continued on, and just behind the next icicle, there it was:

Before them stood a massive pillar of ice, transparent only a few inches below the surface. The surrounding ice created a marvelous sculpture: a solid splash of water, making it seem like an icy statue of a meteor impact. The shape made it almost look like e throne. If it wasn't for the bitter cold, they could have sworn it was made of crystal, and in turn, if that was true, it would make this a slumbering home to a l'Cie turned crystal.

But it was ice in front of them. Brittle, natural, yet so fascinating.

Lightning and Hope approached the pillar carefully.

Hope: "This is it. The tip of the iceberg."

Lightning: "And if memory serves, that is only the tiniest bit."

Hope: "I still can't believe this is all ice. If anything I'd say it was…"

Lightning: "Crystal?"

Hope: "… Uhm, yeah. I mean… If fal'Cie or… Or even a l'Cie was behind this, maybe it turned to crystal in a different form."

Lightning: "Maybe… After all… (extends hand) How much do we know about the fal'Cie, or their nature?"

Saying that, Lightning slowly put her palm against the massive structure. The cold tingled her skin, yet something made her feel warm, forgetting about the cold.

Lightning: "The fal'Cie, and this Focus they gave us… Like it even matters what we think. I wonder… Did the same thing matter here?"

She slid the palm against the surface, like she was wiping the frost off it.

And that's when the paradigms shifted.

She saw an unknown silhouette within. She kept wipping the ice more, like clearing steam off a window, and once she did so, her eyes width:

She saw a visage inside.

A human visage.

Lightning: (gasp) "There is…"

Hope: "Huh?"

Lightning: "There is someone inside!"

Hope: "What!"

Hope saw the same thing: a human figure remained inside the icy structure, petriffied and stiff within the cold prison. His details were perfectly perserved: it was a male, a young man in an odd uniform resembling outfit, with hair only as short as Hope's, but in a different, laid down fashion. Even his eyes were visible, gazing forward like empty glass.

Hope's stomach turned upside down, but once he was done with that, he took out and unfolded his trademark boomerang, readying to strike with it.

Hope: "Hang on!"

Lightning: "Wait! (grabs Hope's arm) There's no helping him now."

Hope: "But he…"

Lightning: "No one can survive being frozen like that. You won't be doing any favors by smashing him!"

Disliking Lightning's statement, but realizing she was right, Hope gulped and put his weapon down. Being a fugitive wasn't easy. Lightning told him that, in order to survive, he had to put sympathy aside, even if it meant ill fortune to others.

It was odd, Lightning had a similar reaction. Despite her own restriction, she must have realized this man was suffering when this ill fate stoke him, his life fading away slowly. She could not help to stare at his grave.

Or maybe it was just her fascination on how the man got there in the first place.

Seeing his still figure made her remember a breaking moment: a similar thing happened when she had to witness her own sister, Serah, put to rest into a crystal slumber. Her Focus complete, whatever it was, she turned to crystal and became forever in front of her very eyes. It is said she was to have been given the gift of eternal life, but the pain of her being taken from Lightning still stung her heart.

Was there anyone that felt this way when this man was frozen alive? Difference being l'Cie are granted eternal life, and him… only eternal.

Hope: "The poor man… (to Lightning) Maybe… we should get going now?"

Lightning: "… Yes, let the tomb be. If the ice holds, at least he won't be forgotten…"

Even when saying that, Lightning kept gazing the man's face. The gleam in his eyes, it was as if it mesmerized her. She was one second away from turning her head.

But…

„…Awaken…"

A whisper, an echo, a sound, a voice, a call, it was a single word she heard inside her head. It was like an unseen force talked to her.

With a gasp,she bid her farewells to the man in the ice, sharing one last glance.

Then… He glanced back.

The eye shifted from an empty stare, and the man inside that cold thing stared right at her!

Lightning: "What…!"

There was no mistaking it: the eyes were moving, he was watching, looking around, unable to move, but he was in fact…

Time for action:

Lightning: "(to Hope) Stand back!"

She kindly pushed hope aside, much to his confusion, and paced back a little to make space.

She was making room for firing range.

Hope just watched Lightning as she took out her trademark weapon, a gun-sword, and held it in a battle stance. For this move, she didn't really need it, but as a l'Cie, any tool of interest could perfectly serve as a wand. It was an object of focus.

Burning energy surged in her left arm, she released her rage against the world in form of visible ember that assembled at the tip of her arm, forming a ball of fire.

Like a grenade, she tossed it…

Lightning: "Fire!"

The fireball was fired forward, and it exploded when it hit it's desired target: the icy prison.

The flames danced about, consuming the ice and melting it down. There was a lot of smoke, and even more steam.

Hope: "What are you doing?"

Hope did not see any reason in her actions, as she did exactly the opposite of what she told him.

His curiosity was awarded moments later when the smoke cleared, and the ice was visible again.

Before the now broken surface could even be percepted by the two l'Cie, this happened, all of the sudden:

A hand, with a glove on it, struck out of the ice. The man punched his way out.

The closed fist opened up, and it was like it casted magic of sorts: a powerful surge of energy occured, the hand kept radiating a mysterious glow, and then, in a flash, the icy pillar completely shattered by an unknown shockwave.

Needless to say, this caused astonishment, wonder and confusion on the l'Cie's behalf. The pillar did not just shatter, it turned to dust.

Soft, gentle dust, a touch of which felt as gentle as a kiss.

Before the main event, the steam that was exposed as the result of the explosion formed a powerful shape, which held only for a few seconds before dispersing: it looked like a dragon, and it's shooshing sound even sounded like one.

Once the dust cleared out, the pillar was no more. There was only the man there, lying down on dry ice, surrounded by a puddle of water. The man broke free.

Elsewhere, on the frozen sealand:

There were two figures standing and observing the surroundings. They were both human, or better yet, human-oid. If they were people, they consealed it quite well, because their outfits, from tip to toe, only consisted out of a single, almost unbreaking layer of dark leather covered in various gadgets, making them look like robots.

The one to the left was pretty much human-sized, and his outfit closely resembled a slim, black variety of a storm trooper, while his completely robotic helmet, which had a straight line of vertical round lights stretching down his head as a face, completely consealed his facial features.

The other one was almost the same, except he was exceptionally large, muscular, and aside from that same style of a suit, his version also included all kinds of metallic armor, including a backpack that looked like he was carrying a large motocycle on his back, and in addition to his triangular vizor on his helmet, overall he looked like a Transformer.

#1 (the huge guy): "So, we back on track?"

The other one was carrying a small, portable device that looked like a mix between a screentouch I-pod and a calculator. There were many meters and units on the screen, but the screen itself kept shaking and fuzzing, so the man kept clapping it in frustration.

#2: "Out of order. The cold must be jamming the device. It could take forever until we find him in this mess."

#1: "That guy's got dumb luck. His first Transect, and the ice-man lands in a pond. The guy's head better make comming here worth our while, 'cause I don't think I like this world."

#2: "Look on the bright side. At least we know… there's people here, heh."

While saying that, the two of them looked upon the icy field of frozen water.

There were numerous soldiers in armed uniforms lying all over the place. The design of their suits was different, but other than those two, a Cocoon dweller would recognize these: PSICOM.

An entire squad of military forces lying all over the field. Maybe unconcious, maybe dead, they were all motionless, and their suits were also damaged to some degree. The tall guy simply kicked one of these bodies with a massive foot, and there was no response whatsoever.

#1: "Bunch of wimps, the lot of them. Calling us Lucy, were they?"

#2: "Did you see their faces once we summoned our Claymechs? (laughs) They totally wet their pants!"

#1: "Yeah! Hahahaha! Like they never saw a Duel Monster before!"

Interrupting his partner's moment of joy, the shoter one saw a massive pillar of ice crumbling in the distance.

#2: "Wait, Milat. (points at the direction) We have our heading."

#1: "So, popsticle finally thawed out, and we didn't even need the scanners to locate him."

#2: "Less talk, let's get our bounty."

Back to Lightning and Hope:

In front of them, a man just broke free from a prison of ice. Naturally, their entire reaction to the show was anything but calm.

The man, about the same age as Light, slowly put his palms on the ground, pushed up and got up. He seemed either exhausted or disoriented, once he got up his feet felt wabbly and he almost fell down again. He kept holding his head and breathing out visible vapor, a trait not even Light and Hope shared in this kind of enviorment.

His attire was now fully visible: his hair had an odd grayish-silver hue, except for the sideburns which were a little bit spikey and had a gold-blonde tone. His clothing, which was odd, were not the same as the ones he wore when frozen up: this time, it was a combination of various visible layers of clothing: a black shirt with odd white markings on it along with a short silver-teal trench coat, followed by a matching pair of throusers and what appeared to be heavy sneakers. Other accessories included a pair of fingerless gloves, a belt with a snowflake logo in the front and a visible store-box with unknown content, a pair of silver shoulder plates and a weird, matching gauntlet on his left wrist, while the right one was simply featuring a ribbon of sorts, tying up the sleeve around his arm.

Once he opened his eyes, his once dead glassy orbs were now visible as light teal.

Hope: "He's alive…?"

Lightning: "Only barely."

The man, Shiro, carefully got up, relying on his palms, then on his knee. Getting up only puts it half right, he was basically kneeling before the two. He watched them for a moment, gasping loudly, as if he was surprised to see people here.

Shiro: "Where… am I?"

His voice was faint, almost like an ill person did the talking. Not sure what to think, Light answered him anyway:

Lightning: "Coast at Palompolum, or what used to be a calm sea."

Shiro: "Palom… polum? An unkown name. Good, that means the Transection worked. (stands up) In that case, I must… GH! (kneels down again)"

Hope: (runs by Shiro's side and supports him) "You alright? Don't strain yourself."

Shiro: "I'll be alright."

Hope: "... You're freezing!"

Shiro: "... You have no idea..."

Trying to help the man up, Hope noticed a familiar glow on the arm he was keeping on his shoulder: on his wrist, beneath the clothing, a rectangular shape came up, pulsing with energy. One small revealed portion of his skin showed marks that resembled dark ink. On closer observation, it looked more like the mark was grown into his skin like a birthmark. A brand.

Hope: "That's… (to Lightning) Light, he's a l'Cie."

Lightning: "He is?"

Shiro: "I'm a what?"

Frustrated, Lightning approached Shiro, and by force, she untucked his sleeve a bit, just enough to see his skin. Oddly, he had plenty of strength to stand on his own two feet.

On his arm, there was a rectangular brand, completely black. It was in the shape and size of a card (this comparison is more than accurate), with a smaller window inside, surrounded by texts in letters she could not read (regular latin alphabet, but all giberrish for Cocoon folk). Inside the window, the brand resembled a noble beast, a dragon awakening from an unknown prison. Details were blurry since the entire picture was tainted in monochrome.

All things considered, this was not what she was hoping to see.

Lightning: "This is not a l'Cie brand."

Shiro: "I don't know what you're talking about, but you shouldn't have seen that. (pulls his arm back) I was expecting the ice to melt. You'd be better off not releasing me. Why did you do it?"

Lightning: "Wasn't it you who called me?"

Shiro: "Called? (smirks) Not exactly. Must be his work."

Hope: "His?"

Completely ignorring his question, Shiro thucked his sleeve back.

Shiro: "I didn't catch your name. Might as well thank you properly."

Lightning: "Very well. (points at Hope) This here's Hope. They call me Lightning."

Shiro: "(stares, confused by the name) Fair enough. My name is…"

"Shiro Whiterain!"

This last statement was spoken by none of the above. It was, in fact, yelled out by one of the two newcommers. Shiro saw them instantly as he heard that voice, and Hope and Lightning had to turn around to see the source.

Just like that, as if they fell from the sky, the two suited up men from before dropped down: the shorter one on his knee, the larger one on both feet, crouching, causing a minor tremor upon descending.

They both leaped down perfectly unharmed.

#1 (the large one): "Finally found you, iceman!"

#2 (the average one): "And not without company, as it seems."

Hope: "What the…!"

Lightning: "(readies her gun-sword) Who are you?"

#1: "Heyhey, look at that, brother. It's a girl! A pretty girl! Can we keep her?"

Lightning: "What did you just say?"

#2: "Business before pleasure, brother. Still, the offer is tempting."

The man pulled out his scanner gadget, and held it in their direction. It beeped and flashed with great intensity.

#2: "Jackpot, it's him alright."

At that point, the man pulled out a gun-shaped tool with his other hand. The gun contained narrow slots not fit for regular bullets.

#2: "No hard feelings, just hand over the guy with the cold on it and we'll be on our way."

Hope: "And then what if we do?"

#1: "Our business, twerp!"

Lightning: "So what if we don't? (points with her gun-sword)"

#1&2: "Hmm?"

Shiro: "What?"

Lightning: "I'm not used to letting things go, especially not after fishing them out fresh."

Shiro: "(smiles) So I'm property now? Compared to ougth else, I'm flattered."

Lightning: "Don't get too comfortable."

Hope: "(pulls out his boomerang) You think they're PSICOM? Or Guardian Corps?"

Lightning: "Not sure. I never saw those uniforms before. Could be PSICOM elites."

#2: "PSICOM?"

The next thing: both armored strangers looked at each other, and then, they burst out laughing.

#2: "You hear that, brother? They think we're regular cops!"

Hope: "So what are they? Fugitives?"

Shiro: "Worse. Bounty hunters."

Lightning: "What?"

#1: "Darn straight. Yes, we're bounty hunters, the big bad boys who put their eyes on other bad people's heads."

#2: "My name is Brane, the Cornerer."

#1: "And my name is Milat, the Uprooter. Now that we exchanged pleasentries, why don't you just budge?"

Shiro: "… Hope, Lightning, you best take off."

Lightning: "Leave you alone in your condition? You wouldn't last a minute."

Hope: "What's up with Light? In Gapra, she told me…"

Hope had a flashback of what Lightning told him back in Gapra Whitewood:

Lightning: "You want to survive, you forget about sympathy."

Hope: "But now, all of the sudden, she's fighting for a complete stranger… It doesn't add up."

Brane: "Keen on playing the good guys, huh? Well we have a little newsflash for you, (points at Shiro) that man over there is a thousand time bigger threat to you than any of us can possibly imagine."

Lightning: "Actually… (morphs the gun-sword into a gun) We're not such good guys ourselves."

(beep-beep, beep-beep)

Brane: "Hm? (the scanner beeps)"

Milat: "What's wrong?"

Brane: "(cheks and slaps the scanner rapidly) This is interresting… According to the scans, both these people are Battle Duelists."

Lightning: "We're what?"

Even though it remained unseen beneath their helmets, but both hunter's expressions just turned exceptionally sinister.

Milat: "How interresting. This changes the whole thing."

Brane: "Indeed. I wonder what prize they'd fetch on the market."

Hope: "What are they talking about?"

Shiro: "(eyes width) ... Lightning, Hope, run!"

Brane: "Too late! (the gun flashes) Manadrive! Here comes a Spell card! Wave Motion! (fires)"

An unknown projectile was shot out of the odd gun's tube, it was in no aspect a bullet or a laser beam. It was, in fact, a thin projectile that flashed bright, then turned into a stream of devastating energy that flickered in the air. Lightning just managed to dodge this missle, and the thing exploded on a random location behind her.

Lightning: "Manadrive?"

Milat: "Oi, take it easy, brother, their dead bodies fetch only half the prize."

Brane: "Don't you worry, bro'. It was just a warm-up shot. I took an interest in the girl, perhaps we can keep her once we capture her."

Lightning: "Capture this!"

Like in a frenzy, Lightning pointed her gun at the two and fired an array of bullets. She was aiming at the shorter Brane, but the hulking Milat stood in the fire's way.

Odd thing, he didn't even flinch. Even worse, the bullets never touched him. As soon as they came within close range of his suit, the bullets suddenly curved back and flew aside randomly.

Milat: "Bahahahaha, it won't work, it won't work!"

Lightning: "What?"

Hope: "Not a single hit! How come?"

Shiro: "It's called Magna Frame."

Hope: "Magna what?"

Shiro: "Their suits emit an aura of electromagnetic waves, that act as soon as blunt metal objects pass at too great speed. It polaryzes the objects and deflects them with sheer magnetic power."

Milat: "That's right, no bullet ever touched this suit."

Brane: "For a world this advanced in tech, you sure are dull to still rely on bullets."

Lightning: "In that case, let's try something else! (focuses energy into her palm, creating a fireball) Fire! (tosses it)"

Lightning threw the ball of fire in their direction. The bounty hunters jumped aside just to be safe, and the fireball exploded on the ground they used to stand on like a grenade. The impact sent them backwards, but they landed on their feet.

Milat: "You see that, bro'?"

Brane: "That was without a doubt a charge of Spirit energy. They's BaD's alright."

Hope: "Impressed? How do you like this? (tosses the boomerang)"

Milat did not even flinch in expectation to the boomerang's arrival. The weapon was still dangerous, but on hit, Milat simply repelled it with a slap of his metallic wrist.

Milat: "Aren't you a bit too old to play with toys?"

Hope: "(holds both hands up) I'll show you toys!"

For some reason, Hope's hands were surrounded by an odd gleam.

Milat: "What the? (looks up) Hmm?"

Above Milat's head, the boomerang remained at one point in the sky, and the emitting aura caused dark clouds to gather in it's wake.

Milat: "What in blazes?"

Hope: "Face lightning!"

By dropping his hands down, Hope's movement corresponded to the cloud's reaction: a great bolt of lightning flashed down and right atop of Milat, lighting him up like a sparkplug.

Milat: "(fried by lightning) GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Brane: "Brother!"

Once the lightning fades, Milat remaied in an odd position, like the impact froze him in time. His suit was smoking from the lightning damage, and he remained silent.

Then, he twichingly turned his head towards Hope and…

Milat: "You. Brat. Are. DEAD!"

Hope: "(surprised) He's still alive!"

Milat: "I'm gonna catch you then I'm gonna put you in an owen!"

Remember that massive cybernetic backpack on Milat's back? One portion of it sprung up, and positioned itself on his right shoulder. It resembled a massive cannon, same in design as Brane's gun.

Milat: "Manadrive! Trap card: Jolt Net!"

The cannon shot out a card-shaped object as well, but other than the previous one, it did not result in a blast. The projectile turned into a net made entirely out of electric strings, and it was headed for Hope.

Hope: "GAH!"

Shiro: "I've got it! (gets in front of Hope, extending his right arm) Frame Freeze!"

The brand on Shiro's right arm glew with great intensity, and in a single moment, it consumed his entire hand with a white glow. This glow was shot forward like a wave of light.

The wave intercepted the net, and by passing through it, the net of thunder froze in place like a web of ice.

The wave continued all the way to Milat.

Milat: "Oh sh00t!"

He crossed his arms in front of him to shield himself, and the wave passed through him. As a result, his suit was covered in frost.

Milat was still mobile, though, he wipped the frost of his suit, then intended to charge at Shiro, but…

Milat: "Gy… Huh? (looks down) My legs! He froze my friggin' legs!"

True, his legs were in fact confiscated by an icy layer, almost like they were growing out of the icy ground.

Brane: "I didn't know he still had that much kick in 'im. Wasn't the runaway supposed to have weakened him?"

Shiro simply glared at the two hunters with a terrifying frown. But the next moment, he felt great pain in his arm, and grabbed his shoulder, nearly collapsing. His pain was evident.

Milat: "Heh, it did. (breaks his legs free, pacing forward) You call this ice? You BaD are too fatigued to resist us right now. Is that why you hid behind them? A girl and a boy as a shield? What happened to your honor?"

Shiro: "Ghh… (frowns)"

Brane: "Did you forget? He's a Battle Duelist."

Milat: "Oh, that's right, those guys aren't people, they're scum. What your powers don't destroy you make it up with your actions, you're lower than a man."

Lightning: "(angry) What was that? (points with gun-sword) Say that again!"

Brane: "Just as my brother explained it. People like Shiro Whiterain are not people at all, they're monsters trapped inside human skin, in every meaning of the word. But why do I bother explaining this to you? According to the readings you're a bird of the same feather."

Hope: "They're treating him… Like… Like a l'Cie."

Milat: "Again this Lucy junk. Do I look like my name's Lucy!"

Shiro: "Leave them…"

Milat: "Hm? (looks at Shiro) What was that, I didn't catch it."

Shiro: "(trembling) I said… Leave them. This is… Between the three of us. They have no part of it."

Milat: "Did I just misheard you or did you actually stand up for them?"

Brane: "Like BaD's have emotions, he's just rusing us."

Shiro: "Think what you want. I… (stern glare) I won't see people suffer because of me!"

The following sentence sounded like it turned the world around:

Shiro: "Milat, Ek Daag Ju Ciel!"

Thunder drums claped in the skies, and the earth itself trembled the moment Shiro spoke those words. Time had stopped for a moment. Light and Hope didn't understand the meaning of the words, but somehow their very essence frightened them.

Lightning: "What was that? What did he say?"

Brane: "Milat, he…"

Milat: "Hehehe, you bafoon. In your condition, with your skills, and yet you dare say you challenge me? This is an opportunity to land our bounty in a flash, you moron. Sympathy, fake or not, has sealed your fate. Shiro Whiterain, I accept!"

Again, the uproar of the world commenced. Thunder roared and the world went still, it was like judgment was put upon it.

Shiro: "If you want me that badly, I only have two conditions. First: you focus all your rage and power on me, leave the other two alone."

Milat: "And the other?"

Shiro: "(smirks)… Obvious, no? You must catch me!"

Saying that, Shiro ran at full speed. The sight was awfully confusing to Hope and Light, but for some reason the bounty hunters recognized the routine.

Lightning: "Hey, what are you…?"

Hope: "Where are you going?"

Brane: "Go have fun, brother."

Milat: "Sure thing. (runs after)"

The act looked ridiculus at this time, basically it looked like a game of catch. And frankly, seeing the massive almost robotic Milat run after Shiro looked like cartoon material.

Then, Shiro put his fingers in his mouth and whistled.

In the pillar he was imprisoned in minutes ago, something woke up. Two lights lit up.

And then, with great power of acceleration, a powerful machine broke free of it's ice boundary.

Like a dolphin that jumps out of the water, this one leaped out of the ice.

It looked in many aspects like a motocycle. A white and blue motocycle whose design matched Shiro's clothes, but it's wheels had no tires, but instead, they were completely solid in nature. The hood and the rear of the motocycle were almost sharp, like a head of a shark. There was a wide pad on the driver's console with odd slots.

Hope: "Where did that one come from?"

The vehicle sped up all by itself, with no driver, and rode towards running Shiro.

Shiro: "Come to me, King Blizzard!"

It was the motocycle was alive and sentient. It got next to Shiro, and he jumped on it's seat.

Once there his clothes began to… change drastically. They glowed and metamorphed before their very eyes:

His hanging trench-coat shrunk, along with the sleeves, and they turned into a driver suit, the same as the rest of his clothing did. All flapping bits squeezed and fit on his very skin. On top of that, the same glow covered his head, and turned into a white helmet with a teal vizor on it, covering Shiro's eyes.

Lightning was astonished: this was the suit she saw Shiro wearing while imprisoned in ice.

Shiro: "Riding Mode- Set!"

Milat: "Show-off. Your D-Wheel is a tin can compared to mine. Manadrive! D-Wheel Equip!"

Milat lived through a similar transformation. On his command, the massive machine on his back begain transforming, morphing and shifting, and respective parts of a motocycle were visible.

To spare the details, the parts connected and shifted, eventually getting the entire machine below Milat instead of behind him. The machine became another motocycle of similar nature, but this one was red and black, and only had the one wheel in the front, while the back of the vehicle was supported by a series of odd exhaust pipes that kept bursting out blue radiance that kept the machine up and stable.

With most of his suit now turned into the cycle for him to ride, Milat looked almost human-sized, but in comparison he'd still tower over Shiro.

Milat: "Riding Mode- Set!"

That's how both of them got on their vehicles, and started a race-like competition.

Lightning: "What are they doing?"

Hope: "Is he running away?"

Brane: "Nope, it's precicely the opposite."

Hope: "Huh?"

Brane: "Ek Daag Ju Ciel. Spoken by anyone else, it's just mambo jumbo, a phrase with no meaning. When spoken by a Battle Duelist like Shiro, then it becomes dangerous."

Lightning: "What do you mean?"

Brane: "It literally means 'I challenge your soul'. Once a Battle Duelist, or BaD as we call them speaks this phrase, it starts a one way trip. An enemy confident in victory might answer to the challenge. Then we play a little game of dueling."

Hope: "A duel?"

Brane: "Duel Monsters. In our world it's quite popular. Without BaD's it's just a game, but with them on the scene, the world is at war. And in this soul-challenge, the winner keeps whatever the looser posesses. Including, his life force."

Hope: "Duel Monsters? The card game?"

Brane: "Oh? So you've heard of it?"

Lightning: "Wait, you said 'your world', what did you mean by that?"

In response, Brane simply chuckled.

Shiro and Milat now gained some distance from the others, and were driving crazy on their D-Wheels across the frozen terrain. The fact that the ground was made of ice didn't seem to bother any of them.

A little bit further, there was a tall icicle.

Milat: "First around that large pillar gets the first turn."

Shiro: "I wanted it no other way."

Both their D-Wheels sped up, leaving a shining track of revealing light behind. They were riding them side-by side.

Shiro: "I'll get there first… I'll get there first… (pain!) Gyah!"

Feeling great pain in his right arm, Shiro yowled and his D-Wheel almost lost it's balance. Milat noticed this.

Milat: "Heh, what's the matter? Still feeling brushed off from your flight?"

Then, by brutal means, Milat rammed Shiro's D-Wheel and hit him in the shoulder.

The pain that was getting severe now knocked the D-Wheel of balance, and it kept spinning rapidly like a lost twister. Shiro managed to keep the vehicle afloat, but this costed him his advantage in the race.

Milat: "Feeling weak already? I can't blame you, you lost an awful lot of energy coming here. Do you still remember that?"

Shiro only gasped in pain from the imact, not answering.

Milat: "A Battle Duelist that focuses on Riding Duels, my first impression of you was that you were a duelist like no other. Yet, your true self is pathethic, Shiro. The field itself speaks of your nature. This frozen sea, it is of your design, is it not?"

Shiro: "Like it matters now…"

Milat: "It sure mattered then, when I finally dueled you. But you escaped, because I was winning the upper hand. A coward you were, and a coward you are now. I will take the bounty for your head with great joy."

That's when they both got to the arranged pillar. It was Milat that got the corner, meters away from Shiro.

Milat: "Thef first turn has been decided! Activate, Speed World S!"

The screens on both their Wheels displayed a green card with hyperdrive artwork on it.

"Duel Mode On."

And that's when things got started…

Brane: „(observing the distant duel) Looks like it's about to start. (to Light and Hope) I hope you enjoy the show, before we get formal again."

And with the two drivers:

Milat&Shiro: "Duel!"

Milat: LP: 4000

Shiro: LP: 4000

The black D-Wheel went ahead, and Shiro had no choice but to follow it.

Milat: "You missed your chance to escape, it's all or nothing speed now. I take the first move. Draw! (draws)"

The gauntlets of both duelists contained slots to hold cards in their hand at such extensive speeds while their hands were occupied handling the wheels. Milat drew his, making a total of 6 cards in his hand. For some reason, the content of the hand surprised him.

Milat: "Hm, interresting. With these I might retrace our last encounter. I hope you don't mind. (picks 1 card among them) I summon Claymech Doll!"

Next to him, a small portal opened up, allowing passage for a „monster" that flew in. It looked like a pot doll with a broken torso, at which point gears were visible inside, spinning in a mechanism not comprehendable. It's eyes flashed with a red gleam. ATK: 1300/ LV4

Milat: "I set two cards down and end my turn. (sets)"

Next to him, mirages of massive versions of card's backgrounds spawned, only to disappear on the next moment.

Even though distant, Hope and Lightning has a clear view of the action. The appearance of an actual monster is what scared them the most.

Hope: "A monster! Is he using trans-gates?"

Lightning: "No. This is nothing like PSICOM methods. It's… A card game!"

Hope: "Card? You mean, like the one in the comercials?"

Brane: "(carefully watching) I'm glad to hear Duel Monsters went public in more worlds than one. The difference being it became extremely popular in our turf. Those vehicles drive on Duel energy source, the Momentum, and the thing that is further increasing their capacity is the infamous Manadrive. It is the one thing that makes a difference between a harmless hologram and a lethal opponent."

Lightning: "Manadrive? Synthetic magic. If they wish to settle this with a game of cards, that's their problem. What is trully worrying me… Is the fact that they managed to weaponize it like this."

Shiro: "This move… (looks at his hand) It's the same thing we did back then. My turn. Draw! (draws)"

Shiro: Speed Counters: 1

Milat: Speed Counters: 1

Looking at his hand, Shiro observed the cards he was holding. He had an odd deja vu feeling. That's because not only the cards, but the moves as well seemed familiar.

He decided to go for it.

Shiro: "I summon the Tuner monster Shiva Shield in Defense mode!"

Performing a similar move as his foe, Shiro placed a card from his hand and on the console before him.

Again, a small portal opened next to him and a monster came to be. This one looked like a large white shield with icicles growing sideways as spikes, and in it's center, there was a large living eye. Other than Claymech Doll, this one was surrounded by a blue pattern, even though it's natural color was not as blue. DEF: 1600/ LV3

Milat: "Again the same one. (presses some buttons and looks at the screen) Let's see… Cryonite-type. That's what your deck consists out. An alternate type of monsters that live for cold and cryogenic enviorments, as well as ice elementals. Their play style: deliberation of enemies and stealing of any field advantage. Sounds quite like a certain Battle Duelist I know, cold and merciless. But I asure you deliberation tactics won't do you any good this time. Any less than they did the last time."

Shiro: "(picks a card) I set one card down. Turn end."

Milat: "Hahaha, then we're both having a deja vu, or rather a deja-duel! It's just the same as we did last time, Shiro. Only this time, we get to end it! (draws) I draw!"

Milat: SC: 2

Shiro: SC: 2

Milat: "Then you surely remember this: I reveal my Trap: Claymax!. (the card reveals itself) It's a continous trap, and the bad news is you take 800 points of damage if I summon a monster during my or your turn while there is a Claymech monster on my side. (picks another card) Unfortunately for you, there is Claymech Doll on my side, and I intend to summon anew. (slaps a card on the console) I summon Claymech Worker!"

Another monster arrived from a portal on Milat's side: it looked like a basic robot held together by wire and gears, covered at some places only with clay armor. It was holding a large wrench as a weapon. ATK: 1300/ LV3

Milat: "And you eat Claymax!"

The revealed card Claymax radiated like an overloading sparkplug, then focused that energy into a single bolt that flared up, and hit Shiro's D-Wheel, dealing actual damage on his body tissue. He yelled in pain, but managed to keep the volume down and let the scream pass through the space between his teeth.

Shiro: LP: 3200

Milat: "That scream of a BaD is music to my ears. I'm 800 points closer to getting rich! But let's not forget the effect of Claymech Worker: when he arrives on the field, one of your monsters changes it's position. That means Shiva Shield switches on the offense."

Saying that, Shiva Shield's blue gleam dispersed, revealing it's true colors.

Shiva Shield: ATK: 200

Milat: "He's ripe for the taking. Battle! Claymech Worker, attack Shiva Shield now!"

The machine obeyed. It swung it's massive wrench at the shield, which broke in pieces on contact, then simply exploded. The shockwave of the impact was fealt on Shiro's behalf, much to his dislike, interpreted in form of a scream.

Shiro: LP: 2000

The distant battle yelled echoes that were carried all the way to Lightning, Hope, and their disliked observer Brane.

Hope: "Can that card really deal that kind of damage?"

Lightning: "It's their way of doing battle. Apparently, these guys sold their heart and soul to the game."

Brane: (observing Lighting) "Hmmm, she's quite the looker, even if she is a BaD. (observes her gun-sword) Oh yeah, that's sharp. And I like the weapon too. These morons are quite impressed with the way a simple game of cards decides fates in our rounds. Shiro made Milat promise we wouldn't hurt them, but I never made such an oath. If we capture Shiro, we might as well get our hands on these two, and then I think I'll make her my special sweetheart. (looks at Hope) But the kid's in the way, it could get tricky. Small fries are taken out first, that is a hunter's rule, and then the big prey will loose his pack advantage. As soon as their backs are turned, I'll strike by surprise and bag them. Mind as well stretch my own legs, heh!"

Milat: "Half way there! Now I attack you directly with Claymech Doll!"

The Doll monster flew in like a cannonball, attempting to ram Shiro head-on.

Shiro: "Maybe you remember this: Trap open! Cold Grave! (the trap reveals) If it's my opponent's turn, I can Special summon 1 Cryonite-type monster from my Graveyard. Shiva Shield, be reborn!"

The trap emitted gentle white snowflake-shaped dust, which eventually formed up and united, recreating Shiva Shield. DEF: 1600

Milat: "The shiled is getting annoying. Doll, cancel attacking."

The doll retreated, and was again by his master's side.

Milat: "Destiny weaved this duel in my favor. If memory serves, you'll be revealing your Comandee to me on your next turn. And I'll be taking the pleasure of killing it. I end my turn."

Shiro: "You won't be killing anything. Not today! My turn! (draws)"

Shiro: SC: 3

Milat: SC: 3

Shiro: "(looks at the drawn card) Again… It's the same."

Milat: "What's the matter? A Battle Duelist is only a slave to destiny, hated by everyone, threat to all, best mentioned when dead in the dirt. No matter what plot you have in mind, it will never have a happy ending."

Shiro: "You're wrong! The only thing that is bringing this destiny upon me and the other Battle Duelists are people like you!"

Milat: "Is that why you take joy in spreading chaos and mayhem among us? As compensation?"

Shiro: "Judge me as you want. I intend to end such conflict, with or without destiny! I summon Snowbell!"

The next monster had a pretty appearance: a fairy in a white dress decorated with crystals and snowflakes. Her dress made her appear like a bell. ATK: 600/ LV3

Shiro: "When Snowbell is Normal summoned while I control another Cryonite-type monster, I can draw a card. (draws)"

Milat: "With that you have all the materials you need. Your Comandee, it will soon appear!"

Shiro: "I tune my level 3 Snowbell with the level 3 Shiva Shield!"

The two monsters on Shiro's side came close, and a remarkable display was given: Shiva Shield dissolved into a total of 3 rings of green neonic light, which surrounded Snowbell like a tunnel and revealed her radiant outlines, together with 3 bright lights in her core. As her body dissolved, the lights remained, and with the 3 previous lights, there was now a total of 6.

3* + 3* = 6*

Shiro: "Ice-cold blood will awaken a brutal god, frozen on the field of crystal dreams. With sparkling dust, shatter that dream into wake! Synchro summon!"

A bright light consumed the series of portals, and a new, more powerful silhouette emerged from within.

Shiro: "Remove restrains, Frostland Archfiend!"

That's when the monster made it's appearance. Simply put, it was a large demon-like creature with horns pointing backwards, massive hands that were almost disproportionally large for it's body, and a pair of wings. It was entirely white, blue, and gray, decorated by icy plates, icicle spikes and frozen chains on it's gauntlets and chest. It had crimson red eyes, but no visible mouth. ATK: 2200/ LV6

The giant fiend of ice rose up in the distance, taking it's place next to Shiro.

Brane: "Finally, it's here, the Comandee."

Lightning: "Synchro… summon?"

Hope: "It looks like an Eidolon, don't you think?"

Milat: "The Patriarch of Cryonites, Frostland Archfiend. This must be your ace. (looks at the readings on his screen) But for someone with your reputation, his Spirit Energy levels are next to pathetic. Now, I will finally see what that thing's capable of."

Shiro: "Battle phase! Frostland Archfiend, attack Claymech Doll!"

The great Archfiend readied it's attack, which was an odd technique: the icy chestplates lit up, and out of this, an array of icicles were shot out, as if made by light itself. The icicles rained upon Claymech Doll, and in this confusion, the only thing left was a powerful explosion and smoke.

Milat: LP: 3100

Milat: "(feeling the pain) Aaaaahhh, yes this is the shock that makes scars, which I fill pridefully show when I beat you! Trap, open: Endless Pot Storage! (the card flips) It initiated exactly when you destroyed Claymech Doll in battle, and it allows me to Special summon another level 4 or below Claymech from my hand. Not to mention, there is Claymech Doll's own effect. When it's destroyed in battle, I can summon another level 4 or below Claymech monster from my deck. From my hand, I summon my own tuner Claymech Glider, and from my deck, a second Claymech Doll!"

Just like that, there were 2 portals next to Milat: one that was opened for another Doll monster (ATK: 1300) and a second, for a mechanical pteranodon-like machine with copper colored Clay armor- Claymech Glider (ATK: 1800).

Milat: "And don't forget about Claymax!, here comes the pain!"

The revealed Claymax! Once again burts out a ray of lightning, frying Shiro's body with tremendous pain.

Shiro: LP: 1200

Shiro: "(grinding teeth) I'm well aware of that. But you only have the right on using that effect once per turn. My Archfiend also has a special ability: if a monster was summoned during the Battle phase after he attacked once, he can attack a second time!"

Milat: "I see. So now that you know about my card's effects, you'll be focusing your attacks on my strongest advisors. Not that it will help anything."

Shiro: "Frostland Archfiend, attack the 2nd Claymech Doll!"

Milat: "What? Why him?"

Milat's wonder was well perceptive: knowing Doll's ability, Shiro would risk loosing field advantage once it summons another Claymech from the deck.

Still, Frostland Archfiend had no objections, and it fired a shower of sharp ice from it's chest once more, again at the Claymech Doll, and again, resulting in an explosion.

Milat: LP: 2200

Milat: "Gyaahh! Destroying Claymech Doll is the last thing my opponent would have done, you should have been wiser than that!"

Shiro: "Simple. This way, I was able to deal the most damage."

Milat: "Was it damage that you were after? Idiot. As long as you don't reduce them to zero, you won't make it through the next round, not with this kind of advantage I have. With Claymech Doll's ability, I special summon the tuner Claymech Golem!"

And another clay machine arrived. It was a bulky mech covered with clay, and having a half-torn human face, the other half of which was broken and revealing moving gears beneath. Even though bulky, Archfiend was still towering above it. ATK: 900/ LV3

Milat: "You see what I have now? The ultimate field advantage. With these monsters I can easily OTK you on my next turn. This is where your claim for damage lead you, a poetic end to your kin."

Shiro: "It was true what I said. I do not desire to imperil those around me."

Milat: "And you dare lie like that. Do you not remember the last time we dueled?"

In Milat's flashback, both him and Shiro were riding their D-Wheels through what seemed like a small urban area, with people around them. With their respective monsters doing battle, and with every hit made real, collateral damage was inevitable. People were screaming and running about, a lot of civilic property was smashed up, burning, or frozen solid.

Milat: "I was in the middle of the hunt for your head, yet your resistance kept plaguing the surroundings like fire that devours the woodland. It was your ice and your spirit power that brought upon a terrible plight upon them all. And then, just when I was to claim the match, you cowardly fled, and using the DSA Unit you stole, you Transected from your home world and into this one. Afraid of facing your destiny in doom, you instead decided to take your chance and become the scourge of another dimension. That didn't stop me or my brother from hunting you down. Running away is never the remedy for our pursuit, you should know that best."

Shiro: "Don't talk to me about noble interrests. Tell me, what was it in truth that drove you to run after me?"

Milat: "Heheh, true, it's not precicely justice we're seeking. Out main motivation is cash. There are many Battle Duelists with bounties on their heads, but of all them your score tips the board. Bringing you down will feed our mouths for years to come."

Shiro: "So where did all that talk of justice and destiny go, was that all a lie?"

Milat: "Hunting down Battle Duelists is our job and duty. Can you blame me for loving it?"

Shiro: "You make me sick. (picks two cards) I set these two down, and end my turn."

Milat: "In the end, you never lived to my expectations. Might as well given me a bit of a challenge. (draws) It's my turn!"

Milat: SC: 4

Shiro: SC: 4

Milat: "This turn you will not survive! I summon my third and final Claymech Doll!"

That spoken, the third copy of his reccuring monster took it's position next to Milat. ATK: 1300/ LV4

Milat: "And Claymax! activates. (the card charges up) Say goodbye to your Life points."

Shiro: "I intend to keep my points, thanks for asking."

Milat: "What?"

Shiro: "I reveal my Trap! (the card reveals) It's called Interfeere, and I can use it to chain your Continous card's activation and then destroy it."

A radiant burst from Shiro's card Interfeere shot out a dense laser beam that hit and eventually pulverized Milat's Claymax! card.

Milat: "Smart, but it won't be enough. With these 4 Claymechs under my sleeve, I will call upon the ultimate destroyer! Don't think Synchro summons are something only you are capable of. I tune my level 4 Claymech Doll with my level 4 Claymech Glider!"

A similar animation followed the new summon: Claymech Glider dissolved into 4 radiant rings, surrounding Claymech Doll and exposing it's inner 4 lights, adding to the 4 lights of it's own.

4* + 4* = 8*

Milat: "Forces of Earth, and forces of Steel unite! Charge a machine whose engine never runs out of fuel! Synchro summon!"

The massive flash then created a new massive machine.

Milat: "Collide, Claymech Maximum!"

The new mech was indeed massive, towering even over Frostland Archfiend, and despite it's size it still matched the D-Wheels in speed. Like a massive fortress, this machine seemed headless, it's torso and shoulders united with various silver armor and decoratings similar to a knight's head. It's huge arms were hanging down like cannons, but they wer elarge enough to serve as supports for the infernal engine. ATK: 2800/ LV8

The mechanic monster took it's place. It's gaze alone beshadowing the entire frozen field.

Hope: "That thing… It's huge!"

Lightning: "Cannons that big can bring down entire mountains!"

Brane: "Heheh, almost time…"

Shiro felt great awe in fear of this monstrosity.

Shiro: "Maximum! That's your ace, is it not?"

Milat: "Yes, but where he came from, I've got plenty of more. I now tune my level 3 Claymech Worker with the level 3 Claymech Golem!"

On his command, the golem figure dissolved into rings of a Synchro, surrounding the Worker with it's radiance.

3* + 3* = 6*

Shiro: "What, another one?"

Milat: "Forces of Earth and Steel, grind the wheel that lingers for perpetual mobility! Synchro summon! Shatter the ground, Claymech Juggernaut!"

Another massive machine arrived, smaller than Maximum, but still overwhelming in nature. It was, in fact, a Claymech whose body was replaced by a massive, rotating morning star from the waist down, and it's arms had no hands, but massive spikes instead. Same as Maximum, it's head ans torso were fused into a single ugly sight. ATK: 2000/ LV6

Milat: "With Juggernaut's effect, all my Claymechs gain 100 ATK times my Claymechs in the Graveyard. Your Comandee there provided it with quite a few. Six in total, and you know what that means."

Claymech Juggernaut: ATK: 2600

Claymech Maximum: ATK: 3400

Shiro: "Now each of them stands above my Archfiend!"

Milat: "But it doesn't stop here. Both my monsters have another ability: when they attack, then you can't negate them with your Trap cards. No matter what kind of trap you got there, a battle escape won't save you this time. Battle! Claymech Juggernaut, attack and obliterate his Archfiend!"

Like in overdrive, Juggernaut's Morning Star spun wildly, and the machine took aim to crush Shiro's monster…

Shiro: "Time to reveal my Trap card!"

Milat: "Didn't you hear what I said? Traps can't negate this attack!"

Shiro: "Good thing this one doesn't cancel attacks. Maybe you remember it?"

Shiro's card revealed itself, and Milat recognized the artwork. It was showing a figure of an icy queen rising from her tundra mausoleum.

Milat: "Another Cold Grave?"

Shiro: "Thought you were the only one with extra copies? Now I can use Cold Grave to ressurect Shiva Shield once more!"

Magic worked, and within moments, Shiva Shield appeared on the field, twitching it's single eye. ATK: 200

Milat: "That twerp of yours is an even easier target. Juggernaut will crush him!"

Shiro: "Then I use Shiva Shield's special ability. By releasing it, I can switch Frostland Archfiend to Defense mode, and during this turn, it can't be destroyed by battle."

Shiva Shield took it's solid stance in front of Frostland Archfiend. The shield dissolved into icy dust and this covered the Cryonite completely, allowing him to kneel down, surrounded by an impregnabe aura.

Frostland Archfiend: DEF: 2400

Juggernaut impaled the fiend, but it did nothing to make him move an inch. His defense was perfect.

Milat: "A nice little stall you did. When a Battle Duelist's Comandee takes damage in battle, then the duelist feels the damage as pain as well. It's no wonder you're trying to protect him. But you're not off the hook that easy. Before my Claymechs, even he is just a snowflake! I attack your popstickle with Claymech Maximum!"

Maximum then revealed the contents of his shoulders, and his arms: a dozen firing tubes and riffles came out, and these charged up for a big bang.

Milat: "Maybe you should know, when Maximum attacks a defending monster, piercing damage will be inflicted."

Shiro: "(grinds teeth) Shoot!"

And Maximum fired it's arsenal. A dozen missles flew about, all made out of pure light energy, and they took on Archfiend's defenses. Even though he could resist the destruction, the heat was immense, and scorch marks became visible as the monster welpt in agony. Shiro felt the impact as well.

Shiro: "GYAAAAAAHHHhhhhhh!"

Shiro: LP: 200

This is when things got dangerous: the impact pushed Shiro's D-Wheel of the recommended track, and down the dangerous frozen ravine. Spinning out of control, Shiro hit several large chunks of ice on the way downhill. This was a seriously dangerous situation, at those speeds al least. Not only that, but the attack of the giant Claymech Maximum also shook the very ground, causing a giant crack to appear in the icy ground.

Neither Hope or Lightning liked what they saw.

Hope: "He got hit!"

Lightning: "Shiro!"

Brane: "Now! (points the gun at Hope) Manadrive Trap: Jolt Net!"

Before anyone could comprehend the situation, Brane pulled his odd card blaster and shot it in Hope's direction. The bolt of energy turned into a net of electric charges, and it wrapped around Hope causing severe pain, trapping it like a reeled fish.

Hope: "GAAARRH!"

Lightning: "Hope! (angryliy looks at Brane) You…!"

Brane: "Struggling only makes it worse. That net is designed specifically to keep down Battle Duelists. Don't feel bad, I didn't forget about you. (points) Besides, killing you is last thing I'd do, so don't you worry about your pal there."

Lightning: "He's just a kid!"

At this point, Lightning pulled out her gun-sword, in sword mode, and an odd aura surrounded her, most notably her chest.

Brane: "Age doesn't matter, Battle Duelists or whatever you call them here are all the same, walking energy bombs, detonate when you're least weary."

The intensity of Lightning's aura increased tremendously, eventuall resulting in forming of a shining object in her hand: a rose-shaped crystal.

Brane: "What's that?"

Lightning: "Odin! (tosses the crystal up) Cut us a path! (slices the crystal down the middle)"

The breaking of the crystal Light held up created a massive burst of energy, temporarily blinding Brane.

Brane: "(covering his eyes) Gyah, is it comming, her Comandee? She used a crystal instead of cards, is that the same?"

A seal opened up in the ground, like a flower in bloom, and like an idol, the mighty Eidolon warrior Odin took his grounds, with his blade pointing at Brane and his shield covering Lightning. She stood by his side, her otherwise covered chest pulsing with radiance. That's where her l'Cie brand was.

Brane: "A summon, eh? Don't think that overgrown chesspawn frightens me one bit! (points the gun at Odin) Eat Raigeki, sucker! (fires)"

The rapid shots from the card cannon turned into powerful lightning bolts, but these bounced off Odin's armor like pedals. The Eidolon took his blade and swung it around, creating a mighty shockwave. Brane just jumped aside to dodge it, but the rifts that attack left in the ground was still quite deep, a claim of Odin's performance.

Brane: "Quite the spirit, aren't you?"

Lightning then came from above him, and tried slamming her blade into his skull, only for Brane to rapidly dodge the attacks. Again, and again.

Lightning: "He's skilled…"

Brane then blocked the next impact of her blade with his gauntlet, keeping an eye-to-eye contact (or eye to vizor in this case).

Brane: "Your brand is on your chest, right? Can I see it?"

Lightning: "My chest? You can't even reach my knees!"

She repeled him back, giving odin another chance to strike. He did so by jumping up and attempting to bring down a thunder-charged impact, but…

Brane: "You're annoying. (puts the hand up) Manadrive Mirror Force!"

The impact came, but it never reached Brane himself. Instead, Odin's blade hit an invisible barrier which repulsed the attack and deflected it, with such brute force even the mighty Odin was forced back like a toy. He fell back and cracked the ice upon crashing.

Lightning: "Odin!"

Hope: "(trying to get untied) He beat Odin without even flinching!"

Brane: "I told you I meant business. (loads the gun with more cards) Now, where were we?"

Even spinning, Shiro managed to glance at the battlefield for a bit, and seeing Lightning cornered by Brane, and worse, Hope being tied up and electrified, it just ignited something in him, and in that one moment, he got a grip and took the D-Wheel back on a straight line, but instead of driving at Milat, he turned the gears toward Brane.

Milat: "Oi! Trying to run again? (drives in pursuit)"

Shiro was comming right at him, with speed of rage. Brane barely found the time to look in his direction.

Brane: "What?"

Shiro: "Archfiend, go!"

The previously attacked Frostland Archfiend, that followed his master in flight all along, lashed his giant claws and turned them against Brane, smashing them against the ground and tearing it apart.

The agile Brane simply jumped up and evaded.

Brane: "Too slow."

Shiro: "Think again!"

Brane: "Huh?"

Somehow, Shiro's D-Wheel made a jump, and at great speed, it's hood was now headed for the airborne Brane. It rammed against him like a missle!

Brane: "GUAAAAHHHH!"

This sent Brane up and away like a football, smashing him against some random icy remains nearby.

Lightning: "He just…"

Milat: "Brother! (speeds up) Jerk, I won't forgive you, Battle Duelist!"

Shiro: "(pointing at Milat) We had a deal! You said you won't hurt anyone but me!"

Milat: "Now when did I make such a promise? Do tell."

Shiro: "You snake…"

Milat: "And if I were you I'd worry about myself, like you always do. (picks a card) I set one card down. End of turn."

And so, the tracks of the Riding duel continued, and Lightning witnessed one amazing thing after another. Even in peril, Shiro put all his means together just to stop Brane's attacks.

Lightning: "They called him a monster, yet he's the one showing compassion. (holds her chest) That sounds… Like me. Like us l'Cie."

No one noticed the crack Maximum dealt to the terrain had expanded…

Shiro: "It's time."

Milat: "Hm?"

Shiro: "That voice that poisons the world… I will… (powerful glare) I will silence it!"

Saying that, Shiro's aura started glowing as well, and it all came out of a certain point in his wrist. That's where the brand seen by Lightning earlier was, and that's precicely the gleam that radiated even out of his clothes.

Milat: "What the…! (checks the screen) These readings are off the charts! But his Comandee is already on the field. (realizes) Don't tell me…Frostland Archfiend… Is not his Comandee at all?"

Glowing with power, Shiro simply made his move. He drew a card, and just chanted:

Shiro: "Traveling heart will transcend a crystal field of dreams. With Sparkling Dust, shatter that dream into wake! (the glow increases)"

The voice Lightning heard earlier, it echoed once more, but this time, it was much more powerful. It was a song, a scream, a voice, a roar, an echo, and a thought, all at once, and the sheer feeling of it's gaze leaved her stunned.

Lightning: "This man, he… He never fought seriously to begin with!"

Shiro pulled his right arm up, showing the almost burning mark on his wrist.

Shiro: "Appear… My Comandee!"

- to be continued

/ending/opening song: Mai Kariyuki: 'HEART&SOUL'/

Muteki no jounetsu suteki na souzetsu
Ichido kimetara mayowanai

Namida afurete mo
Kizu ga itakute mo
Shinjiru koto wo yamenai

Mune no oku ni aru honoo wa

Ikusennen mo mukashi kara
Kienai hatenai sadame dakara

DON'T GIVE IT UP!

Itsudatte taisetsu na mono
Mamoru tame BURN! BURN! BURNING!

Kitto umareta n dakara
GIVE IT TO ME!
Koko ni iru n da

Mezameta kanjousen wa
Majiwatta unmeisen de

Donna miraizu wo egaku?
DON'T GIVE IT UP!
Tadoritsukeru hi made HEART & SOUL!

(next time)

Shiro: „My very soul split apart, I have voyaged far to retreive it."

Brane: „Running away as you always were!"

Lightning: „Wrong. The only reason he fled was…"

Milat: „My hands are shaking so much… Is that really…?"

Shiro: „The cold that deliberates, it shall become the new force."

Hope: „He… He looks like him…"

Shiro: „Battle!"

Shiro: „Next time on Cold Saga: 'Soul Guardian- Diamond Dust Dragon Takes Flight!' With sparkling dust, shatter my dream to reality!"

Card intel:

Speed World S (Spell, Field)- When a player activates a Spell card, except "Speed Spell", they take 2000 damage. During each Standby phase, both players gain 1 Speed counter (max: 12). During their respective turns, players can remove the following number of Speed counters to resolve the following effects: 4 or more: targeted Monster gains 200 ATK times the number of coutners removed; 5: discard 1 card, then draw 1 card from your deck; 6 or more: inflict 200 damage to your opponent times the number of counters removed; 7: draw 1 card; 10: target 1 card on the field and destroy it; 12: gain 2000 Life points.

Claymexh Doll (EARTH/ level 4/ Machine-type/ ATK: 1300/ DEF: 1400)- If this card is attacked and destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special summon 1 level 4 or lower "Claymech" Monster from your deck.

Shiva Shield (WATER/ level 3/ Tuner/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 200/ DEF: 1600)- During your opponent's Battle phase, you cna send this face-up card to the Graveyard to select 1 Attack position Cryonite-type Monster you control and switch it to Defense position. During this turn, the selected Monster cannot be destroyed by battle.

Claymax! (Trap, Continous)- Once per turn, if you Normal summon or Special summon a monster while there is a face-up "Claymech" Monster on your side of the field, inflict 800 damage to your opponent.

Claymech Worker (EARTH/ level 3/ Machine-type/ ATK: 1400/ DEF: 300)- If this card is Normal summoned successfully, select 1 face-up Monster on the field and change it's Battle position. This card cannot be used as Synchro Material, except for the Synchro summoning of a "Claymech" Monster.

Cold Grave (Trap, Normal)- You can only activate this card during your opponent's turn, and only if all Monsters in your Graveyard are Cryonite-type Monsters. Special summon 1 level 4 or lower Cryonite-type Monster from your Graveyard.

Snowbell (WATER/ level 3/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 600/ DEF: 1500)- If this card is Normal summoned while you control another Cryonite-type Monster, draw 1 card. If you control a face-up "Snowbell", you cannot Normal summon this card.

Frostland Archfiend/ Daemon Jackfrost (Synchro/ DARK/ level 6/ Cryonite-type/ ATK: 2200/ DEF: 2400)- Once per turn, if a Monster is Special summoned on your opponent's side of thie field during Battle phase, if this card already attacked during this turn, it can attack once again.

Endless Pot Storage (Trap, Normal)- Activate when a "Claymech" Monster you control is destroyed by battle. Special summon 1 level 4 or lower "Claymech" Monster from your hand.

Claymech Glider (EARTH/ level 4/ Tuner/ Machine-type/ ATK: 1800/ DEF: 1000)- If this card attacks, you can increase it's ATK by 500 during Damage step only. If you use this effect, destroy this card during the End phase.

Claymech Golem (EARTH/ level 3/ Tuner/ Machine-type/ ATK: 900/ DEF: 1200)- This card cannot be destroyed by battle during the turn it was Normal summoned or Special summoned successfully.

Interfeere (Trap, Counter)- When a face-up Continous Spell or Continous Trap card's effect resolves or activates, negate it's activation and effect and destroy it. This card cannot be activated in response to the activation of a Continous Spell/Trap from the hand or face-down.

Claymech Maximum (Synchro/ EARTH/ level 8/ Machine-type/ ATK: 2800/ DEF: 2600)- 1 "Claymech" Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Machine-type Monsters
- This card's attack cannot be negated by effects of your opponent's Trap cards. During battle between this attacking card and a Defense position Monster whose DEF is lower than this card's ATK, inflict the difference as Battle damage to your opponent.

Claymech Juggernaut (Synchro/ EARTH/ level 6/ Machine-type/ ATK: 2000/ DEF: 1500)- 1 "Claymech" Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Monsters
- This card's attack cannot be negated by your opponent's Trap cards. Face-up Attack position "Claymech" Monsters you control gain 100 ATK for each "Claymech" Monster in your Graveyard during Battle phase only.

Jolt Net (Trap, Normal)- Negate the attack of 1 Monster. when you activate this card. That Monster cannot activate it's effects as long as this card remains face-up.